title: Gastrin, Helicobacter pylori, and colorectal adenomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypergastrinemia and Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection have been associated with an increased risk for colorectal neoplasia in some studies. However, data from large prospective studies of both associations are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum gastrin levels and/or infection with Hp are associated with the subsequent development of colorectal adenomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (all with a history of adenoma formation) were drawn from 2 previously completed adenoma chemoprevention trials. Participants underwent clearing colonoscopy at baseline with follow-up colonoscopy 1 and 4 years after enrollment. We used commercially available assays on fasting blood specimens to measure serum gastrin levels and Hp serologies 1 year after randomization. Risk ratios for adenoma and advanced adenoma development during the subsequent 3 years were computed by generalized linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1794 subjects randomized in the 2 trials, 685 had available serum and were included in the analyses. Gastrin levels were significantly higher in the 239 subjects with Hp titers indicating infection (mean, 88.3 pg/mL) than in those not infected (mean, 73.9 pg/mL; P < .001). In fully adjusted models, gastrin levels were not associated with incident adenoma development (risk ratio [RR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-1.54) or advanced adenoma formation (RR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.33-2.03). A positive Hp serology was associated with a decreased risk for adenoma formation (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.60-0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither hypergastrinemia nor serologic evidence of Hp infection were associated with an increased risk for recurrent adenoma development. These results do not support the notion that gastrin promotes colorectal carcinogenesis, at least at the stage of adenoma development.
authors.affiliation: VA Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont 05009, USA. douglas.robertson@va.gov
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.forename: Dennis J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ahnen
authors.forename: E Robert
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Leila A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: Bernard F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005755:Gastrins